10:10pm: The Rangers are one of the teams interested in Hawpe, reports MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan. Hawpe is seen as insurance should current first baseman Mitch Moreland (also a left-handed batter) suffer a setback in his return from wrist surgery. A Rangers contract would represent a homecoming for Hawpe, who was born in Fort Worth.
7:35pm: Brad Hawpe could be close to signing a minor league contract with one of three clubs that have shown interest in the 32-year-old, reports MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez. Hawpe underwent Tommy John surgery last summer and says he is healthy and ready to return to the field.
Hawpe signed a one-year, $2MM deal with the Padres just over a year ago but struggled badly in 2011, hitting just .231/.301/.344 in 216 plate appearances for the Friars. San Diego unsurprisingly declined its $6MM club option on Hawpe for 2012, instead buying out the contract for $1MM.
Hawpe hit .288/.384/.518 with 99 home runs between 2006-2009 as member of the Rockies. He has rather severe splits (a career .873 OPS against right-handers versus a .752 OPS against southpaws) and will probably be limited to a DH or first base role given both his recent surgery and his lifetime -18.9 UZR/150 as an outfielder. Still, it wasn't long ago that Hawpe was one of the more underrated sluggers in the game, and he could be a very solid platoon or bench option for teams in need of a left-handed bat.
I know the Red Sox liked him a couple of years back. Kinda wonder if two of the teams are the Cubs and Red Sox.
Really hope they ignore this guy, unless it is on a minor league deal with -0- promises of being called up.
Sweeney plays better defense and he’s not RH to be able and take the place of mcDonal, so awful fielding RF who can’t hit won’t fix anything, only create more issues at one of the toughest to play corners in the game..
Avoid.. Conner Jackson would make more sense even and that is not saying much.
Well it says minor league deal, which means not on the 40-man roster unless, and he can rake if he finds his stroke again. Virtually no risk with potentially high reward, I say go for it.
I think it would be a great idea if the Sox sign him. Sure, he hasn’t been great the past few years, but with protection in the Sox lineup, his average might return to the likes of 2006-2009. In any case, he’s a better option than Darnell McDonald, and he comes cheap.
White Sox as a 4th oufielder/back up first baseman?
He was once a cornerstone for the Rox in the 5 hole and could really rake. Hope he gets another shot, worth a minor league deal IMO.
Maybe the Angels, they need left-handed bats.
Exactly what the Angels need – another 1B / OF / DH. Yeah, it’s definitely the Angels! LOL
i doubt the cubs would get involved unless they think he is fine playing outfield in Des Moines.
Someone should get him a Miller Lite…
Pirates and Clint Hurdle
i think he would be perfect for the brewers as a back up OF and he could play 1st
He’s also great for the Brewers simply because of his last name. Hawpe was born to be a Brewer at some point.
Triple Hawpes Brewed.
I thought my line would be obvious to this point. Guess I should have tried harder. Drats!
Turn out the lights, the party is over.
Never did a player need to be in the American League more…
vlad guerrero says hello
Vlad never even came within 1/3 of Hawpe’s badness.
Vlad’s worst UZR? -9.4
Hawpe’s? -36.0
Who wouldn’t benefit from hitting in Arlington?
Jeff Mathis.
Hawpe was absolutely terrible here in SD. He seemed like a nice guy but has no place ever being on a major league roster again. He doesn’t even measure up to AAAA players like Brad Eldred.
All hitters are terrible in SD. That place is death for hitters.
He was pretty dang good in his early years with the Rockies. Like Rangersfan32 said, SD isn’t typically a place for hitters.
Am I the only one that disagrees with the assessment that a 752/873 career OPS vs L/R as “severe” is a bit dramatic? The guy has a near 900 OPS vs right handers and a more than passable OPS vs lefties. He hasn’t exactly been given a chance in his career to prove that it was all because of Coors Field with his stints in Tampa and SD. And, in any case, hitting in Arlington with the Rangers lineup could take him right back to his “best” years.
Hawpe os a good fit with the Cubs at 1st base, shallow right, and right center and the wind blowing out in the summer, I smell a return to the old Hawpe.